I had my second stellate ganglion block yesterday. The 1st was a diagnositc performed several months back at a different facility and by a different anes. than yesterdays.

At the 1st place, they covered my face with a lead apron shield. Not so at the new one.

Today I have what seems to be a sunburn on my face, neck and chest area that were exposed to the radiation. Anyone else experience anything similar to this?

Thanks,
Cala

hI CARLA!!
I HAD 2 SGB ALSO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD PUT A LEAD APRON ON YOUR FACE THOUGH?? HMMMMM...I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD OF THIS ONE?? ANYONE ELSE?? ALL THEY USED WITH ME WAS THE FLUROSCOPY(TO GUIDE THE NEEDLE IN) RADIATION?? WHY WOULD YOUR dOC. HAVE RADIATION EXPOSED ON YOU AT ALL?? ~LOVE, DESI

Hi Cala,

I have had numerous Stellate Gangliuon blocks by a specialist Anaesthetist/Pain Management Doctor and a radiographer. I have never had a lead shield put onto my face.
I honestly don't see what made the first person use one, it is very, very unusual and really not necessary as the amount of radiation from fluroscopy is negligable.
The redness on your face and chest is very unlikely to be from radiation but perhaps the vasodilating effect of the nerve block.
I am sure it will settle down, if not perhaps ask what antiseptic was used to wash you down before the procedure as it could be a reaction to that
Wishing you luck, please keep us informed with what happens.
Tayla

Thank you both, for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I feel reassured in knowing that the lead apron was not used in for you either.

I do have a lot of allergies, so it could have been something along the lines of the aneseptic or possibly even something in the mixture of marcaine and cortocosteroids (sp?). I think she used clonodine also, not sure, I know she mentioned it.

Also, I understand the idea of the flushing from the epinephrine, but that much later???

Oh well, I'll see what the Dr. says today. I spoke with the oncall anes. on Sat. night. He offered to have me come to the E.R., but since I could breath and wasn't itchy, I decided to forgo the hour and then some ride to the city.

Thanks again ladies,

Cala

I didn't have any radioactive substances whatsoever in or around be during my blocks. I'd guess that they gave you the block under X-Ray so covered your face. I'd definitely investigate as it's not impossible to burn a patient in a modern hospital procedure.

Don't worry about it though. Even if it actually happened it probably won't have any lasting effects.

Were you under X-Ray or some sort of imaging equipment for the second injection?

I had 4 Stellate Ganglion Blocks several yrs ago for my Trigeminal Neuralgia. They didn't put anything over my face. I just remember being wide awake with my head tilted far back and being told not to swallow during the injection which was a combination of Lidocaine&Marcaine. One of the side effects they always looked for was that "drooping eyelid" to tell whether or not they'd gotten it into the right location...was no floroscope used during any of mine at that time. First one relieved 90% of my pain, second increased the pain about threefold. Third one relieved the pain again, fourth one increased it, after which the pain management dr. which performed them said that he wouldn't do any further ones since I didn't seem to have an actual "trigger spot" with my pain. By the way, I shall not mention where they were done, but it IS a world known facility and they did not cover my face with anything as a precaution so I too wonder if that was really necessary.

i have stellate blocks once a week and have never had lead. my doc does use floro. the nurses and the doc always wear lead but they do so because they are in the room around the x ray radiation for hours (my mom is an iv sedation nurse).
in all of my sgb i have had the red flush thing once...the doc tried a different mix of meds and i was allergic to one of them. i took some benadryl and the itchiness and redness subsided, the next block we went back to the old mix.
i hope things work out